Material handling cradle



May 15, 1945. R. A. BROWN MATERIAL HANDL'ING CRADLE Fiied'June 29', 1944 tweets-sheet 1 y L May 15, 1945'. A. BROWN 2 3"7 MATERIAL HANDLING CRADLE a) (sepals 5m Inventor Patented May 15, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATERIAL HANDLING CRADLE Ruben A. Brown, Massena, N.

Elgie Anne Brown, Application June 29, 1944, Serial No. 542,650 6 Claims. ('01. 294-67) This invention relates to a material handling cradle and more particularly to such a cradle adapted for the handling of sheet or bar stock or analogous material.

-A primary object of this invention is the provision of a material handling cradle adapted to pick up, transport, and release material, when associated with a crane or other lifting device, in an efficient, reliable, and relatively simple manner.

A further object is the provision of such a cradle which serves as a safety device in that it.

terial handling cradle which will be eificient and reliable in operation and sturdy and durable in construction.

Additional objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangement of parts and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompany-' ing drawings wherein there are shown two preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevational view of one form device embodying this invention, shown in position adjacent a quantity of material to be lifted. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the parts in a difierent position of adjustment, with the material to be handled secured thereinand shown in lifted position.

Figure 3 is a top elevational view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is asectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the device as shown in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in section and'partlally in elevation, disclosing .a modified form of this inventive concept, and

Figure .7 is an enlarged perspective view of certain additional details of constructio Having particular reference now to the drawings, the material handling cradle, generally in-- dicated at It, embodies four arcuate arms ll, l2,

l3 and I4. with a bifurcatedportion Eachof arms H and I3 isprovided J3 and II, respectively,

- on a cylindrical sleeve 32 which 48, for retaining the Y., asslsnor to Massena, N. Y.

(see Figure 3) adjacent an extremity thereof, which portions are adapted to embrace the ends of members l2 and I4, respectively. Suitable registering apertures are passed through the adjacent ends of the members, the arrangement being such that members II and I2 and members l3 and I4 form two parallel pairs of members, the component parts of each pair being pivotally mounted with respect to each other as on a pivot pin i8. A self-aligning hook engaging member generally indicated at 20, is comprised of a. sleeve 2| mounted about pin l8, portion 2| thus serving as a spacer sleeve retaining the side members in desired spaced relation, and an extending portion 22, having an aperture 23 therethrough, adapted for engagement with the hook- 24 of a traveling crane (not shown) or similar Pins 25 and 26 secured to bifurcated end portions l5 and I1, respectively, serve to limit the rotative movement of member 20 about pin I8.

Spacer bars 30 and 3| are positioned-at intermediate points between arms l2 and i3 and II and I4, respectively. Bar 30 has mounted therehas secured to a rod 33, adapted secured to an inmid-point thereof a cylindrical slidably to fit within a sleeve 34 termediate point of a cylindrical member 35 mounted on bar 3|.

As best shown in Figure 4. sleeve 34 has positioned therein a relatively weak coil spring 36 abutting the end of rod 33 to force the same outwardly to sleeve 34-, thus biasing, normally, the pivoted arms to open-position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Additionalspacer bars 31 and 38 are positioned adjacent bars 30 and 3|, respectively,' and journaled for rotation in the side walls of arms I 2 and I3, and arm II and M,

respectively. The lower ends of parallel members l2 and I3, and members ;II and M, respectively, have pivotally secured thereto, as by pivot pins, 40 and 4|, a pair of oppositely disposed. material engaging jaws generally indicated at 42 and 43, respectively. Jaws 42 and 43 are identical incontlguration' andare comprised of double triangular end walls 45, the double walls being so spaced as to leave a slotted recess 46 therebetween into which the ends of the adjacent arms are adapted to fit. Suitable aligned apertures are provided in walls and the ends of their associated arms through which the pivot pins are adapted to pass to retain the parts in pivotal relation. Jaws 42 and 43 also include a back surface 41 and a base material to be handled, in position. Rollers 48 are :lournaled in the'outer side walls 45 adjacent the front edge of base 48 to facilitate the insertion of the ends of material lifting device.

' by the length of rod 33 a rod I6I projects downwardly into the jaws, and handles 50 are secured to back walls 41 to facilitate the manual positioning of the jaws with respect to the material to be han-i dled when desired, the use of handles precluding the possibility of the crushing of the operator's hands between the material and .the material handling jaws.

From the foregoing the operation of the de vice should now be readily understandable.

Hooks 24 are engaged in recess 23 of self-aligning hook engaging portion 20, which, it may here be pointed out, is caused by gravity to assume a horizontal position and held in such position by its abutment with either pin 25 or pin 26, and cradle I moved to a position adjacent and straddling a pile of material to be handled, preferably mounted on supporting blocks 52 (see Figures 1 and 2). As hook 24 is raised jaws 42 and 43 are manually moved inwardly toward the edges of the material 5| until the ends,

of the material abut the back 41 of'the jaws, whereupon further-lifting of'the hook lifts the material, the dead weight of the material and the friction between the material and the base 46,0f the jaws being sufllcient to overcome the tendency of the spring 36 to bias the jaws outwardly. It should be noted that the positioning of the ends of the material outwardly with respect to the pivots and 42 overcomes any tendency of the jaws to pivot about these points when the cradle is handling a load. The material may then be safely lifted and; moved to any desired location and deposited on suitable additional supports 62. Further lowering relieves the weight and hence the friction on the jaws and permits themto be'disengaged from the edges of the material, spring 36 serving to force the jaws outwardly with respect thereto, and the device may now be lifted clear of the material and reutilized for the transfer of other material as desired.

Itwill-be seen that the structure previously discussed may be utilized with any desired length of material within'certain limits, it being noted that the inward travel of the jaws is restricted and sleeve 36. Under certain conditio'nsit may be desirable to use the cradle to move shorter material. Under such con.

" ditions a modified form of structure as shown in Figure 6 is employed. The device of Figure 6 is comprised of arms H3 and H4, identical to arms The mode of use and operation of this modification are substantially similar to those described in connection with the foregoing modification. However, the pivoting of arms I'll and I12 at their ends permits the jaws to move materially closer to each other and thus permit the handling of shorter lengths of material. Stop members I15 are secured to sleeve I62 to limit the inward movement of the jaws toward each other. a

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there are herein provided two forms of material handling cradle achieving all the objects of this invention and many others including advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance. It will also be seen that the constructions herein described provide for material handling cradles which are safe and reliable in operation and sturdy and durable in construction.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

v .1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a plurality of pairs of arms the inner ends of each of said pairs of arms being pivotally secured to each other, saidpairs of arms being in parallel alignment, spacer bars between said pairs of arms securing the same in said alignment, jaws. pivotally secured to the outer ends of related arms of said pairs, and

resilient means positioned between said spacer bars normally biasing the component parts of silient means comprisinga rod secured to one I3 and I4 and additional arms identical to arms II and I2, (not shown), a pivot pin H6 and a hook engaging member I20. Spacerbars I30 and I'3I are positioned between opposite arms as in the modification'previously discussed. The ends. 1

ofthe arms temiinate in material handling jaws identical in assembly and construction to the jaws i 42 and 43 of the previous modification. In this construction,,however, the sleeve I2I of hook-- engaging portion 'I20"has a central section thereof out out as at I2Ia (note Figure 5 Fitted in the recess thus formed is a. sleeve I from which into a sleeve I62 having a compression spring I63 positioned therein adjacent a closed end I64 ofthe sleeve. Sleeve I6} is provided with a pair of oppositely'disposed lugs I66 and I66. to which are pivotally secured as by pivot pins I61 and I66, respectively, tothe bifurcated ends I66 and I10 of apair of rods III and I12. Theopposite ends ofrods HI and I12 terminate in-sleeve-like portions I32 and I35, respectively, positioned at right angles thereto and surrounding spacer bars I30 and I3I for rotative movement thereabout.

inner ends of. each tween said pairs of arms of said spacer bars coacting with a sleeve secured, to an oppositely positioned spacer bar, and spring means in said sleeve abutting the end of said rod. Y

. 2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a plurality of pairs of arms the of said pairs of arms being pivotally secured to 'each other, said pairs of arms being in parallel alignment, spacer bars besecuring the same in said alignment, jaws pivotally secured to the outer ends of related arms of said pairs, and resilient means positioned between said spacer bars normally biasing the component parts of eachof said pairs of arms outwardly and hence biasing pression springin said. sleeve normally biasing.

the same downwardly with respect to said Irod anda pair of rods, pivotally mounted between said sleeve and on opposite sides thereof, and oppositely disposed spacer bars between said arms.

3. In a device of inner pivotally secured to each other, said pairs of arms being in parallel alignment, spacer bars between said pairs of arms securing the same in said alignment, jaws pivotally secured to the outer ends of related arms of said pairs, and resiiient means positioned between said spacer bars a vertically disposed the character described, in combination, a plurality of pairs of arms the ends of each of said pairs of arms being 2,375,747 normally biasing the component parts of each or said pairs of arms outwardly and hence biasing said jaws away from each other, said jaws being comprised of a base member and a back member and double end walls of triangular configuration, the outer ends of said arms being adapted to fit between said double end walls, means pivotally securing the ends of said arms between said double end walls, and a roller adacent the inner end of said base portion adapted to facilitate its insertion under materialto .be handled.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a plurality of pairs of arms the inner ends or each of said pairs of arms being pivotally secured to each other, said pairs of arms being in parallel alignment, spacer bars between said pairs of arms securing the same in said alignment, jaws pivotally securedto the outer ends of related arms of said pairs, and resilient means positioned between said spacer bars normally biasing the component parts of each of saidpairs of arms outwardly and hence biasing said jawsaway from each other, said jaws being come prised of a base member and a back member and double end walls of triangular configuration,'the

outer ends of said arms being adapted to fit between said double end walls, means pivotally securing the ends of said arms between said double end walls, and a roller adjacent the inner end of said base portion adapted to facilitate its insertion under material to be handled, and bandles secured to the back portion of said jaws to.

facilitate the manual rotation thereof. about said pivotal securing means.

end walls, and

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, two pairs of arms forming a frame, a pivot pin securing the inner ends of the arms or said pairs in pivotal relation to each other, a hook engaging member rotatably mounted on said pivot pin, stop pins mounted on'said arms limiting the rotating movement of said member, jaws pivotally secured to the outer ends of said pairs of arms, said jaws being comprised of a back wall, a base wall and double end walls of triangular configuration, said outer ends of said arms being adapted to fit between said double resilient means biasing said jaws apart.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, two pairs of arms forming a frame, a pivot pin securing the inner ends oi: the arms of said pairs in pivotal relation to each other, a hook engaging member rotatably mounted on said pivot pin, stop pins mounted on said arms limiting th'rotating movement of said member,

jaws pivotally secured to the outer ends of said pairs of arms, said jaws being comprised of a back wall, a base wall and double end walls of triangular configuration, said outer ends of said arms being adapted to fit between said double end walls, and resilient means biasing said jaws apart, said resilient means including sleeve having a compression spring therein and a rod coacting with said spring and sleeve, the ar rangement being such that the action of said spring serves to-bias the component members of said pairs or arms outwardly about-said pivot pin.

RUBEN A. BROWN. 

